A young woman saw a mystery tiny spot on her head grow to the size of a
golf ball - and discovered it was a rare cancer with only 30 cases in the
world. Rhianna Thomas, 24, was told by three different doctors it was just a
harmless lump on her scalp. But over the next seven months it grew to the size
of a golf ball.
Surgeons finally operated after Rhianna was told it was caused by a
cluster of blood cells growing under her scalp. But when she returned to have
the stitches out in August she was given the earth-shattering news that she had
the rare bone cancer.
Still smiling: Rhianna, pictured with her mother Diane, said the most important thing to her was keeping her sense of humour
The Topshop assistant from Cardiff, South Wales, first noticed the spot
last Christmas. She said: 'I was washing my hair and I felt a small spot. At
first I didn't think much about it but as the weeks passed I realised it was
getting bigger and bigger. 'It wasn't painful just a big soft squidgy lump on
my head. Soon it was the size of a golf ball. The doctors really didn't think
it was anything to worry about - just a simple cyst to be removed.' It was only
when Rhianna had an operation at Coventry University Hospital to remove it that
doctors discovered it was the very rare bone cancer. 'I was told it had come
back as cancerous - a rare form of Sarcoma, with only 25 to 30 cases in the
world,' she wrote on her blog.
Rhianna Thomas pictured before her operation
Sarcomas are rare cancers that develop in the supporting or connective
tissues of the body such as muscle, bone, nerves, cartilage, blood vessels and
fat. Rhianna underwent a life-saving operation to remove any remaining cancer
cells, which involved a skin graft from her leg. Rhianna said: 'I couldn't take
it in because it was such a huge shock. Not knowing what was going to happen
was pretty scary. I had to have part of my head shaved. I loved my hair and
would spend hours straightening and going to the hairdressers having it
coloured. But I knew losing my hair was the least of my worries. After the
operation my head was bandaged up for a week so I couldn't see it. Thankfully
the operation was successful and all the cancer was removed and the doctors
able to obtain a clear margin around where the cancer had been.'
But the fashion-marketing graduate has refused to stop smiling. She has
even managed to switch jobs and now works for George, the fashion label of the
Asda supermarket. She said: 'On the bright side I'm saving time not having to
do my hair each morning and I haven't had any bad hair days. Hats have become
my new best friend and I have at least 15 different ones. I am saving a fortune
on going to the hairdressers too! I might invest in a blonde wig soon but for
the moment the hats are keeping my head warm.'
Rhianna pictured after her operation. She is about to start chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions
Rhianna is about to start chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions but
doctors say her prognosis is good. A side effect of the cancer treatment can be
infertility and Rhianna has been given £3,000 NHS funding to freeze nine of her
eggs. She said: 'I do want children in the future and I joke that if Olly Murs
is around please feel free to come and donate! The most important thing to me
is keeping my sense of humour. I try to laugh a lot and stay positive.
I am
looking forward to Christmas and hopefully I will have a few new hats. I want
to travel when my treatment is over and go to America. My cancer has put
everything into perspective and makes me realise that I have to live for
today.'
Rhianna said her father Gareth has inspired her, 58, who have successfully
battled throat cancer. Rhianna's mother Diane, 54, has put her job and life on
hold to look after her at her new flat in Birmingham, close to Queen Elizabeth
hospital where she is having her treatment. She said: 'I wanted a flat mate but
I never expected it to be my mum. She's been brilliant taking me back and for
to all my hospital appointments I've started calling her Florence after
Florence Nightingale.'
Rhianna has started a blog about her cancer fight to keep family and
friends up to date with her progress. She said: 'The feedback from it has been
incredible, with many saying how inspirational and brave I am. 'If I can
inspire even just one person to put lives 'stresses' into perspective, then I'll
be pleased. I'm the sort of person that once I get over the initial shock of
something I just get on with it.'
Source: Daily Mail UK
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